Celebs Who Died on Christmas Day…

A year that has seemed disproportionately filled with celebrity deaths, from Prince to David Bowie to Leonard Cohen and more, claimed another this evening, as British singer, songwriter and producer George Michael died on Christmas Day. He was 53.

The boundary-bending icon and member of British duo Wham! was one of the greatest talents of his time, penning some of pop music’s most beloved hits over the years (“Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” “Careless Whisper,” “Faith,” “Freddom! ’90”) and, of course, one of its most controversial (“I Want Your Sex”). But his death at the young age of 53 of heart failure caught the music world, already reeling from a year of high-profile deaths, shocked and saddened — perhaps even moreso as it came on Christmas day.

As tributes continue to pour in and fans the world over mourn Michael’s death, Billboard takes a look at other musical icons who passed on Christmas day over the years.